Health care costs have nearly doubled this past decade, but not because our population is getting older, as many have suspected, concludes a new report.

The discussion paper from the Health Council of Canada finds that increases by Canadians of all ages in the use of services like surgeries, treatments and prescriptions account for 48 per cent of the spending growth.

The report, entitled "Value for Money: Making Canadian Health Care Stronger", is based on data compiled by the Canadian Institute for Health Information. It reports that spending on health care has risen from $84 billion in 1998 to $160 billion in 2007.

Population growth is responsible for another 14 per cent of the increase, and inflation is responsible for 27 per cent of spending growth. An aging population has driven up costs by about 11 per cent, the report concludes.

When it comes to where the money to pay for all those costs come from, about 70 per cent of comes from taxes, the report says, while private insurance and individual out-of-pocket spending cover the rest.

The council reports that in 2007, Canadians spent an additional $400 of their own money or insurance money on health care compared to a decade earlier.

The report also found that Canada spent more on health care than many other countries but still ranked low in access, adoption of information technology and timeliness.

"Can we improve the quality and value of our system? Are we getting the value we think we should be getting? Certainly before we invest any significant dollars in the future, we need to ask these questions," said John Abbott, chief executive officer of the council.

"We really need to do so, especially in the current economic climate when tax revenues are falling."

In that vein, the Health Council has launched a website to solicit views on how to get more value out of the health-care system.

In the discussion paper, the council asks whether we're funding the right things and investing in the programs that will lead to the greatest health improvements for Canadians.

The council questions, for example, whether we're using services well when we see a specialist instead of a family doctor who could provide the same service?

It also asks whether it's necessary to see a specialist instead of a family doctor who could provide the same service, and whether cataract surgery should be performed on people with little loss of vision?

The website at CanadaValuesHealth.ca will allow visitors to debate the issues, take part in surveys and post comments.

The health council says it's not a discussion about cutbacks or service reductions, but rather about maintaining and enhancing the system by making smart spending choices.

"Pressure continues for governments to spend more at a time when families tighten their belts and the global economic uncertainty deepens. We all need to be assured of the value we receive when health care continues to command such a large share of Canada's resources," the council says in a release.

The information gathered will be summarized, and findings will eventually be reported back to the public and to federal and provincial governments.